172 CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 



iiispexjtor, and enable biin to deciide M'ith a safe margin what meat and 

 milk can be sent to market without injury to human health. 



The indemnity may be a tax on the State, on the commune, or on the 

 stock owners and butchers who will eventually profit most by the sup- 

 pression of the disease. 



ACTION OI' THE CONGRESS. 



On account of the short time available for the consideration of the 

 question, Weheukel opposed any action at the present congress, but 

 Quivogne, Larmet, Aune, Kossignol, and Bouley urged a decision of 

 the (juestiou, " Ik tchat cases can the meat be used for food ? " This was 

 agreed to. 



Lydtin furnished a resume of his report and concluded by presenting 

 paragraph /of his resolution for the acceptance of congress. 



Bouley held that one of the most difficult questions in practice was 

 what an inspector should do with the carcass of a tuberculous beast. 

 It is established that tuberculosis is a malady dangerous to the animals 

 which are able to contract ir, not only by the respiratory passages, but 

 also by ingestion into the stomach and by inoculation in any part of 

 the system. He referred to Toussaint's experiments of which the re- 

 sults were frightful. The tuberculous element did not riside only in 

 the tul)erculous lesions, but is diffused through all the tissues. The 

 juice of the tiesh of a tuberculous animal, even after it had been heated 

 to 50° or 60° Cent., that is the temperature of roasting beef, has j)roved 

 virulent for the ox, pig, cat, rabbit, &c., even when given otdy in a 

 virulent dose, a small dose ; large doses are not necessary. Consider- 

 ing the facts in this light we ought to establish no degrees in tubercu- 

 losis; when it exists it renders the consumption of the flesh dangerous. 

 He is convinced that tuberculosis, whatever maybe its degree, should 

 entail the ccmdemnation of the meat; it can only be utilized if well 

 cooked. 



Tuberculosis of man is certainly contagious, as is known to all the 

 world, being jirineip illy transnntted from husband to wife. The disease 

 is very widely spread, affecting one-tilth of our poi)ulation. We must 

 look to butcher meat as one of the principal causes of this great prev- 

 alence of tuberculosis; it is probable that the infection enters by the 

 digestive passages as in the experiments ot the laboratory. He con- 

 cluded by pr()i)osing the following amendment: 



Tuberculosis Ixjjiig cxperinicutally deiiioiislrjiti'd ;is ii lu.-ilatlN f raiisinissibli' l).v the 

 digestive canal and by inoculation — 



Tlie congress declares that meat provided by t iibctculons animals should be excluded 

 iVom the food of man, whatever may be the stage of the tuberculosis, or the apparent 

 qualities of the meat. 



In his judgment, stock owners should be indemnitied. and butchers 

 urged to establisli mutual insurance societies. 



Van Hertsen detinliMl the pra<*tice in the Brussels abattoirs, long in 



